Did SMRT CEO Trains say “Disruptions are planned”?

SMRT had to test the new system throughout the day because it was being added to an already operational MRT line and would take “years” if it were only tested at times of the day which were less busy.

“If we were to restrict the performance checks to only weekends, or engineering hours (i.e. 1.30AM – 4.30AM), it would take Singapore years to implement the new signalling system on the NSEWL,” he said.

What I think he’s mealy-mouthing is that SMRT’s staff don’t really know how the new signaling system will operate with the existing system in peak and normal hours, so they got to put it in when traffic conditions are normal, pray hard and debug when things go wrong..

This is the giveaway me thinks:

“The system hardware and software we have are customised for the unique local environment,” he said. “While the system supplier had experience working with other operators in the world, they are unable to simply replicate the well-oiled systems of Taipei, Hong Kong and London, and import those here.”

I think he says the disruptions* are planned going because

Unlike with the Circle Line incident last year – when SMRT had to conduct extensive tests to find out what was causing intermittent signalling issues in September and November – Mr Lee said that a “planned” approach was being used this time.

“This is unlike the Circle Line incident in 2016 when we dealt with unknown unknowns,” he said. “We are adopting a planned, systematic approach …

Hey Desmond, get off yr ass and stop looking at yr bank statement, because in the 1990s

The renowned American military strategist, Edward Luttwak said that the only good thing about Singapore was that “the trains run on time”. (From the standpoint of 2017, that now seems like a funny remark, given the relative regular incidence of train delays on the MRT.)

Derek da Cunha on FB recently

I mean military men are supposed to make sure that the trains run on time. Taz why in the 19th century many US generals ended up running railway companies. Even a tin-pot dictator, Mussolini, is reputed to have made Italian trains run on time.

But u seem to be different. Because u scholar and SAF general isit? Everything is “paper” only?

—————————————————–

*The NSEWL has experienced multiple disruptions over the signalling system test period, with commuters taking to social media to voice their frustration. At the end of June, train services on the North-South Line were halted for nearly two hours due to a signalling fault. Part of the East-West Line was also disrupted.